What size saucepan do I need?
A 2-quart saucepan covers sauces and grains for one or two. A 3-quart is the most useful single size for a family; add a 4-quart for batches.
Sizes by household
| Cooking for | Size | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 people | 1.5 to 2 qt | A cup of dry rice (about 3 cups cooked), oatmeal for two, a can of soup, a few boiled eggs |
| 3 to 4 people | 3 qt | Two cups of dry rice, grits or polenta for four, sauce for a pound of pasta, six boiled eggs |
| 5 or more | 4 qt or larger | A double batch of rice, mashed potatoes for six, a big pot of sauce |
Leave room above the food for stirring and bubbling. Rice roughly triples in volume as it cooks.
Every size we list
| Size | 8-oz servings | Sets and pans with it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 qt | 3 | 15 products |
| 1.2 qt | 3 | 1 product |
| 1.4 qt | 4 | 1 product |
| 1.5 qt | 4 | 24 products |
| 1.57 qt | 4 | 2 products |
| 1.6 qt | 4 | 2 products |
| 1.7 qt | 5 | 1 product |
| 1.75 qt | 5 | 1 product |
| 1.8 qt | 5 | 5 products |
| 2 qt | 6 | 31 products |
| 2.1 qt | 6 | 1 product |
| 2.2 qt | 6 | 1 product |
| 2.3 qt | 6 | 1 product |
| 2.5 qt | 7 | 16 products |
| 2.54 qt | 7 | 1 product |
| 2.6 qt | 7 | 1 product |
| 2.7 qt | 8 | 1 product |
| 2.75 qt | 8 | 2 products |
| 3 qt | 9 | 33 products |
| 3.2 qt | 9 | 1 product |
| 3.3 qt | 9 | 1 product |
| 3.4 qt | 10 | 3 products |
| 3.5 qt | 10 | 5 products |
| 4 qt | 12 | 6 products |
| 5 qt | 15 | 1 product |
On this page
Size the cooking job
Match capacity to the recipe and leave working room. The opening, handle span and lid can matter as much as another quart. Consider how the pan will feel when full.
Pans we list, measured
Only the makers' own measurements are shown. Tap a heading to sort.
18 of 18 rows
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Sauce Pan with Lid, 1 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 13.1 in | 1 US qt | 2.13 lb | 3 | 2 | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Sauce Pan with Lid, 1.5 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 13.1 in | 1.5 US qt | 2.46 lb | 4 | 3 | Included |
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Sauce Pan with Lid, 2 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 13.1 in | 2 US qt | 2.74 lb | 6 | 4 | Included |
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Sauce Pan with Lid, 3 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 17.3 in | 3 US qt | 3.91 lb | 9 | 6 | Included |
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Sauce Pan with Lid, 4 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 18.6 in | 4 US qt | 4.45 lb | 12 | 8 | Included |
| Anolon X Hybrid Nonstick Saucepan with Lid, 3 qt | Not stated | 7.75 in | Not stated | Not stated | 7.25 in | Not stated | 14.25 in | 3 US qt | Not stated | 9 | 6 | Included |
| Blue Diamond Classic Saucepan with lid, 2 qt | Not stated | 7 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 2 US qt | Not stated | 6 | 4 | Included |
| Blue Diamond Diamond Bond Saucepan with lid, 1.57 qt | Not stated | 6.3 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 1.57 US qt | 2.6 lb | 4 | 3 | Included |
| Blue Diamond Triple Steel Saucepan with lid, 1.5 qt | Not stated | 6.3 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 1.5 US qt | Not stated | 4 | 3 | Included |
| Caraway 3-quart Ceramic Sauce Pan, Cream | 8 in | 8 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 15.3 in | 3 US qt | Not stated | 9 | 6 | Included |
| Circulon A1 ScratchDefense Nonstick Saucepan with Lid, 2 qt | Not stated | 6.77 in | 6 in | Not stated | 6.5 in | Not stated | 13.75 in | 2 US qt | 2.4 lb | 6 | 4 | Included |
| Circulon A1 ScratchDefense Nonstick Saucepan with Lid, 3 qt | Not stated | 7.56 in | 7 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 14.5 in | 3 US qt | 2.8 lb | 9 | 6 | Included |
| Heritage Steel Titanium Series 3-quart Saucepan with Lid | Not stated | 8 in | 7 in | Not stated | 5.25 in | 4 in | 16 in | 3 US qt | Not stated | 9 | 6 | Included |
| HexClad 2-quart Hybrid Saucepan with Lid, TerraBond | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 6.9 in | 3.5 in | Not stated | 14.6 in | 2 US qt | 2.1 lb | 6 | 4 | Included |
| HexClad 3-quart Hybrid Saucepan with Lid, TerraBond | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 7.9 in | 3.7 in | Not stated | Not stated | 3 US qt | 2.4 lb | 9 | 6 | Included |
| HexClad 5-quart Hybrid Saucepan with Lid, TerraBond | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 9.45 in | 4.57 in | Not stated | 20 in | 5 US qt | Not stated | 15 | 10 | Included |
| Made In 2-quart Stainless Clad Saucepan | Not stated | 7 in | 6 in | Not stated | 4 in | 4 in | 13.6 in | 2 US qt | 2 lb | 6 | 4 | Included |
| Made In 4-quart Stainless Clad Saucepan | Not stated | 8.5 in | 7.5 in | Not stated | 6 in | 5 in | 18.5 in | 4 US qt | 3.1 lb | 12 | 8 | Included |
Flat cooking diameters to scale
Volume scale: 0–3 US qt. The blue fill shows three-quarters full, the level the portion columns use.
Estimate liquid portions from capacity using your own fill level, or measure a pan you already own.
Questions before you choose
Is a 10-inch pan 10 inches across the bottom?
No. The size on the label is usually measured across the top rim. The flat floor where food cooks is smaller, often by 2 to 3 inches on a sloped skillet.
How many servings does a pot hold?
Divide the volume you will fill by your portion size. A 4-quart pot filled three-quarters holds about twelve 1-cup servings; a single layer of chicken is a different question.